This would be the method I would recommend as well. Perhaps someone can post a video or picture to show the OP how best to do it. My hair is short right now so I’m not a good candidate!
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I found this video and the first portion shows what Equkelly is discussing. The “bump” with your ponytail holder should NOT go in the helmet. If you fan out your hair and it’s still too much, you can leave a bit bigger of a bump out.
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Then the answer is really pretty simple because you have limited options.
Option 1: Buy a new helmet in a larger size.
Option 2: Practice putting your hair up in different ways until you can find a way to create the best illusion possible that your hair is in your helmet while leaving enough out from under that you aren’t getting an excruciating headache. Hairnets + the harness of your helmet can camouflage some of that hair.
Option 3: Go get a haircut.
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I agree with these options. It is possible that if you can get someone who knows how to do hunter hair to help you, they may be able to arrange your hair in a way that is more comfortable. It’s probably going to be hard to describe that in writing. And if your hat was fitted without your hair in it, it may still be too tight. I would ask your coach or one of the more advanced riders on your team to help you.
Another option that could work for this first show: Is there someone else on your team with a bigger head who would let you share their helmet for your class? When I rode IHSA, we did a lot of helmet sharing of this sort.
I agree that, long-term, you do need to get a helmet that you are comfortable wearing. If you are going to show with your hair up in the helmet, then you should try on helmets with your hair up so you know it will be comfortable before you buy it.
In the meantime, you could also try riding in the new helmet with your hair down at home. If the foam is going to compress, this might help break it in a little, so it is less tight with your hair up. But if your helmet is truly too small, that is probably not going to make a big difference.
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As a last resort, I would consider Krylon paint, or vinyl wrap as $10 ways to make your blue helmet work until you can solve your helmet fit issues.
Agree with this. In IHSA my helmet, my hunt coat, my boots, my belt, my gloves, would all be on a different person by the end of they day.
Ok thanks that is reassuring, but the ponytail goes about 4 inches past the front of my head when I fold the ponytail up.
Ok thanks, those are good ideas!
That’s where the hairnet becomes your friend. Low ponytail. Folds up and on top of your head, elastic should be outside of helmet and tucks nicely under harness, swirl pony tail on top of head, capture all with hairnet. I’d go more into hunter hair, but that’s complicated to explain about the ponytail holder, plus hairnet, etc. So basics will work.
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@CQequestrian, now I get the problem. You need a way to make your pony tail shorter, so that there isn’t so much hair to get up into the helmet. Let me suggest a “hack”.
Put your hair into two sections. Twist them behind your head enough times to shorten your pony, and then fan the pony out, and put your helmet on. If you do this right, the twist will be in the harness, and you may get the helmet to fit.
Otherwise, try another way: get your hair into two sections, and find a way to get the two sections up from around your ears. Helmets tend to have more space on the sides than on the front/back (at least for me), and you may have enough clearance on the sides to stuff your hair up from the sides.
Again, you will need some hairnets to pull this off. Good luck!
Ok, thank you!!
Unfortunately, I have noticed that all three of my CO helmets have stretched out significantly over time, and they are designed to expand a bit with wear. On the contrary, my GPA and Samshield helmets, both with removable liner systems, do not do this.
Did your trainer recommend CO or did you choose it? Which model did you get? It sounds maybe like one without a liner? Mine stretched so much with use that it was a little tight at first and after a year it was falling on my nose. I do not like those helmets as I don’t think that is a great design feature at all. Who designs a safety device whose fit changes so much - seems crazy to me!! I digress. You have a problem today and you need help to fix it, so it might be good to wear it outside in the heat - it seems the combination of heat and sweat makes it stretch out more. If you can’t do that, wear it around in small increments around the house, maybe not with all your hair up in it but some of it? Maybe half up half down? Or ride in your lessons with a long pony for now so it starts to stretch - keep wearing it.
If you decide to try a different helmet, I recommend the One K Avance MIPS wide brim. It’s perfectly acceptable at A shows, is stylish, will keep the sun out of your eyes, and is a bit kinder to your head in the sizing than CO. You can also choose the helmet shape. It has MIPS and in comparison to other similar helmets, it’s affordable.
Best of luck! I agree that you don’t want to show in a dial helmet. IEA is more competitive than people think. Here the A Show kids use it as extra riding time and practice, and I understand why your trainer recommended a new helmet. You don’t want to stick out. I know some people are saying it doesn’t matter, but if two riders are equal, what the judge goes to next is first impression. You need to make it a good one!
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I disagree with this. The dial fit has nothing to do with it- especially in the WTC classes, where in my experience these helmets are commonly seen. My barn’s kids have gone to zones with dial fit helmets. Sure, the feature is most commonly seen on helmets at an entry level price point, but it’s a smart design feature for growing heads and I’m glad more manufacturers have adopted it. The bright turquoise bit, however, is best for home.
You are, however, spot on about CO helmets compressing significantly- I was advised that if it didn’t feel uncomfortably tight when it was new, it was a size too large. The OP (or her parents) might be reassured by calling the tack shop, explaining the problem, and getting advice on how to break it in. As you provided… but if I were the OP’s parent, investing in safety equipment for an expensive sport, I would feel better hearing “it’s supposed to be like that at first” or “that doesn’t sound right, come back in” from someone who sells the helmets for a living, rather than well intentioned advice off the internet.
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Just want to point out that recently the COs have changed to a removeable liner system in their helmets, so the above advice about compression may or may not be accurate based on “other” helmets with removeable liners. I just had to replace a helmet that was only a year old (but manufacture date was already a year old because I scoured eBay for an older version without the liner) after a fall and ONLY the new ones are available now. So chances are OP’s helmet does have the removeable liner.
Just saying.
Also, been wearing the same model CO since ~2006 and have replaced it every 5 years or as needed and they have never “compressed” for me the point that it affected fit. So YMMV.
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I bought the CO AYRbrush the other week in closeout and it has a removable liner and it’s already compressed a lot after just 5 or 6 rides. It was super uncomfortable when I first put it on but it’s feeling better every ride. My old AYR8 in the same size without the removable liner feels way too big in comparison. When I’d bend over to find something in my tack trunk it would just fall off my head if it wasn’t buckled.
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We can agree to disagree. How competitive IEA is varies by region. In my region, you’re best to look the part. Nobody wants to stand out in the wrong way. I would not show in a dial helmet, personally, I prefer a helmet designed and fabricated to actually protect my precious brain. Dials can malfunction. A liner - notsomuch.
I’m sure there are some regions where this isn’t the case, but in this region you are competing against (often) Zone ranked riders who will look the part. Fake it 'til you make it!
My trainer said that Charles Owen was the best brand, and I think I have a JR8. Thanks for the suggestions 
I’d honestly be amazed if anyone could tell whether many of the plain black or navy helmets have dials or not from ten feet away. I sure can’t.
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I wish I’d known that… although I’m not sure it would have changed my mind re: COs should feel uncomfortably tight when it’s new.
I did one ride in my (then) new CO, and had such a bad headache I went right back to the tackstore. Helmets size up in very small increments, so I just went up 1/8th of an inch and, my god it was night and day difference.
If you haven’t ridden in the helmet too much yet, OP, you can see if the tack store will work with you to replace it for a just a titch larger.
That said, if you need to go significantly up to get it to fit with that “hunter hair,” something else probably needs to change, whether adjusting to a different hairstyle outside the helmet or looking at another helmet altogether.
I just got back from riding in my new JR8, same size as my last two, but it’s very snug. I expect it not to be after I’ve worn it for awhile, though. Not impossible to ride in now, but not as comfortable as my stretched-out old one (5 years old), and it appears to be the same in all other respects. So I’m not sure the JR8 has undergone a significant reboot.
I have to confess, I’ve never found a dial helmet that fit me well. I found myself constantly fiddling with the dial, and everything always felt too tight or too loose. But even though I’ve worn Charles Owens pretty consistently because the company does offer helmets that aren’t too expensive and fit my head, ultimately there is no “best brand,” and the best brand is an approved safety helmet that is comfortable and fits (i.e. it will stay on properly).
